How to Dial In "Altered Boy" by Exodus - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Altered Boy"
Suggested rig · the original isn't documented.
Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning
Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.
On your amp, these numbers won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
From Shovel Headed Kill Machine (2005). Shovel Headed Kill Machine is the seventh studio album by the American thrash metal band Exodus, released on October 4, 2005 through Nuclear Blast. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2 through a Marshall JCM800 2203, the rig we use for Exodus' other songs from Shovel Headed Kill Machine, stands in. Set the amp to a saturated high-gain setting and use the bridge pickup. Published transcriptions put it in drop C (C G C F A D).
Common Questions About the "Altered Boy" Tone
What guitar did Exodus use on "Altered Boy"?
The guitar on "Altered Boy" (released 2005) isn't documented; the Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2 above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. The track is in Drop C (C G C F A D), so retune before you dial anything in.
What amp settings does "Altered Boy" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 8.5, Bass 6, Mid 5.5, Treble 6.5, Presence 6.5, Volume 7. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale; match them on your amp first, then nudge to taste. ToneMirror can translate these positions for whatever amp you actually own.
Can I play "Altered Boy" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Altered Boy" tone on a Katana, a Helix, a tube combo, or anything else. The translation accounts for EQ curve, gain structure, and pickup type so the result actually sounds like the record, not just the same knob numbers on different gear.
More Tones You Can Dial In
Tone references for "Altered Boy" by Exodus are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.